A temporary bridge has been installed in Guantánamo following damage from Hurricane Oscar

The Eastern Army of the Cuban Armed Forces (FAR) deployed a tactical military bridge between the municipality of Imías and the town of Jesús Lores in support of the local residents following the devastating impact of Hurricane Oscar on October 20.

"Based on the work developed by engineering units of the Eastern Army, the TMM-3 vehicles were successfully deployed and vehicle passage between Imías and Jesús Lores was ensured," the military branch announced on its Facebook profile.

According to shared videos, it appears to be a multi-span bridge of Russian origin with a supported truss design, of the scissors type, capable of bearing heavy vehicles or tanks weighing up to 12 tons.

The legs of the easel, which fold and are stored under each arm during transport, can be mechanically adjusted to achieve the desired platform height, a step that should be taken before extending it. The bridge can be used separately or as part of a set.

It can also be used alongside other types of bridge equipment, and, in case of military necessity, it can be placed underwater for visual concealment.

Journalist Miguel Reyes, known on social media as Miguel Noticias, reminded that this route had been impacted by Hurricane Oscar and that the implementation of this alternative had been delayed due to the ongoing complex weather conditions affecting the area.

Oscar wreaked havoc on the road infrastructure in eastern Cuba, where several towns remain cut off from communication.

The original bridge connecting Jesús Lores with Imías is in dangerous conditions, including a water pipe that was swept away by the rise of the Guajacal River, which precariously supports it. The road linking Cantillo with La Tinta in the municipality of Maisí has also been severely affected.

Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Cuba's Minister of Transportation, reported on additional work being carried out on the Guantánamo – Baracoa road.

For example, at the San Antonio – Imías boundary, there was an erosion event at kilometer 71.5. "On the right side of the road, there was a landslide with a height of 14 meters, and on the left side, there were visible cracks along its length and width," the official detailed.

For its reconstruction, “the existing track from the crown was demolished to remove material displaced by the crack. And at this moment, the embankment is being formed with compacted layers,” he stated.